Bus roof or the like



March 26, 1929- A. G. HAwKEs BUS ROOF OR THE LIKE 2 Sheevts-Sheet Filed Nov. 24. 1926 jim/wn March 26, 1929. A G, HAwKEs 1,706,527

BUS ROOF OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 24, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rae-mea Mar'. '26, 1ere.`

l I 4 1,706,527' lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR e. HAWKEsor DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .lissniiioiav To AMEmoANcAR AND FOUNDR'Y MOTORS COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, Y., A' CORPORATION lOIE DELA- WARE.

sns Roon on THE LIKE.

Application filed November 24, 1926. SerialvNo. 150,474.

The present 'invention relates to roof construction, and is more particularly adapted and advantageous forl motor vehicle roofs, such as bus roofs especially. An aim of the invention is to make the roof amply strong and stiff, and to prevent' it from sagging over doors or the like, where unusually large intervals between supports -may be necessary. Other objects and advantages that can be realized through the invention will 'appearA from the description hereinafter of a selected and preferred form'of embodiment.

In said drawings: 4

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of a motor bus roof frame conveniently embodying the presentv s' invention, portions being broken' out and omitted to bring the illustration within the limits of the paper, and only a minor portion of the roof covering being shown;

Fig. 2 shows a vertical vlongitudinal section through the roof, both covering and frame appearing in section as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, -the ligure beingshortened by omission of intermediate por- Fig. 3 showsa transverse section throu h one side of the roof, taken as -indicated by i the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, on a larger scale;

' Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through a portion of the front end of the roof, taken as indicated bythe line 4-4 in Fig. 1, on a larger scale; V

Fig. 5v shows a longitudinal section through a portion of the roof at the rear,

similar to the corresponding portion of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 shows the end of a carline and its attachment to the subjacent frame, as seen from the exterior of the bus; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a side plate, illustrating the attachment of a side post thereto; and

Fig. 8 shows a cross'section through one of the carlines and its filler, with a portion of the roof covering secured thereto.

rPhe drawings illustrate the application4 of this'invention in connectionwith what is known in the art as a Haskelite one piece roof, which for present purposes may be briefly described as comprising a covering 9 (consisting of laminations of wood covered by an outer layer of textile, fabric) on a substantially unitary frame structure composed of wooden wall plates (side and end plates) 10., 10, 11, and 12, and metal'carf roof, and also along its rear end.

lines 1 3 of channel' cross section spanned between the side plates 10,' 10. and provided with wooden fillers 14 secured thereinl by bolts.; 15. The'lami-nated. wood portion of covering 9 may be secured to -the fillers 14 by nails voi'screws 16, as shown in Figs.

5.and 8,- aftei which the fabric, or mule hide as it is called in the trade, is properly secured to the Haskelite. As shown in Figs.

1,13, and 5, furring strips 17l extend from carline to cai-line along either side of the The carlines 13 may be concealed by a ceiling lining 18 of suitable material secured to their low-er sides,' with `its margins gained into the upper sides of wooden retaining strips '19- secured to the furring strips 17. Advertising matter or a suitable finish 20 is shown with its edges engaged behind the rounded outer edges 4of the retaining strips 19 and behind the like ed e of retaining strips 21 secured to-thewal platesl 10, 10', and 12..

In orderto 4make the roof frame strong and stif,the ends of the carlines 13 are .gained as shown in Figs. 3 andA '6. The

horizontal portion of each ear 22 may be secured against the upper surface of the 4wall plate 10 bythe strap bolts'23, 23 by which the -wall plate is secured to the side posts or pillars 24,' and its vertical outer end may be secured against the outer side of the wall plate by horizontal bolts 25 extending between the pairs of bolts 23, 23.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, each of the posts 24 may have a tenon 25a on its end, fitting into a corresponding vertical hole in the plate 10.

j vAs shown in' Figs. 1, 2, 3,4 and 5, the roof is stiffened as against sagging, or other vertical deformation, and also against hori zontal deformation, bymarginal angle plates 26v (as they' may be termed) extending adjacent the junction between the roof and the wall, at least throughout those portions where special strength is desirable. That is to say,in the present instance, the angle plates 26 extend along the sides and laround the ends ofthe roof in both its front and .rear portions, throughout the regions where.

the doors are commonly located. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the angle plates 26 has a depending vertical flange 27 gained into the Wall plates 10, and 12, and secured thereto by the b olts 25, andA along the plates 110 has a laterally extending upward sloping flange 28 that lies ,against the marginal or outer ends 'of the carlines 13 and is secured to them by bolts 29 through their fillers 14. These plates'not only strengthen the roof margin against sagging or other deformation, but also strengthen it against horizontal deformation. In the roof ends, While the vertical flange 27 is bolted fast toy the wall plates 11, 12 by bolts 25" and 25 respectively,v as above described, its lateral flange 28 Ais not secured to other parts.v

At the front of the bus, the end carline 13 is connected to the corresponding overhanging frontend late 11 by a couple of metal tie bolts 30, w ose outer ends are flattened and secured by bolts 31 to a wide timber 32 Whose near portion forms 'the front end plate 11. The inner ends of the ties 3() cxtend through the carline 13 and have nuts 34 threaded on them at its inner side.' At the rear of the bus, Wooden quadrant-curved members 35 extend from the end carline 13 to the top of the rear end plate 12, to' which they are secured by angle brackets 36 and.Y

bolts 37, 38 and the urring strip 17 extending across at the rear end of the roof is interrupted at the curved members 35.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ,of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications. thereof Within 'the angle plates extending across the ends and.

part way along the sides, said angle plates having flanges secured to said side and end plates and anges secured to carlines at a distance from said end plates.

' 2. A roof of the character described comprising side and end plates, carlines carried by said side plates and a' continuous angle plate extending across the end plate and part Way along the side plates, said angle plate having a vertical ange secured to said .side and end plates andan inwardly project- 'and partly along both sides and overlap ing the Wall plates and the lcarline ends an cured to both.

4. In a roof of the character described, the

combination with the Wall plates and. the

corresponding roof margin directly secured 4 thereto, of, an angle plate arranged adjacent the junction of the roof margin and Wall plates and extending across an end and partly along both sides, said angle plate having an upright flange by which it' is secured to the Wall plates and a lateral ange secured to the roof margin. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR G. HAWKES. 

